Letter of the Day (Jan. 22): Special elections

January 21, 2014 - 6:12 PM

Politicians should be required to share the cost of special elections when they exit early (“Politicians, not public, served by an early exit,” Jan. 21) unless they leave for medical reasons or are filling a different public position. Not only did Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman fail her St. Louis Park constituency in her 180-degree change in position on the Southwest Corridor freight-rail reroute, now she will cost taxpayers roughly $85,000 for a special election so that she can take a high-paying private position before her term ends. It isn’t right for her or anyone else who holds public office. I can see that she would choose not to run again. She’s alienated a significant part of her voting base. But she should be required to complete her term or pay the consequences.